Love Amidst Wars

forty-five

Juliette went back to the cottage with widened eyes, the horrifying and embarrassing scene still playing in her mind. Johnny panted and wiped his sweat as he put down the shovel, "What took you so long?"

His question brought her back to reality. She approached him and handed him the flowers, "There were too many beautiful flowers. I got carried away."

He chuckled a little before sighing, "So, are you ready?"

She nodded silently and watched as he headed inside to carry her mother's lifeless body. She took one proper look at the Viscountess's pale face, staring at it with regret, love and disappointment. She wanted to ask numerous questions but it was no use.

Why did you have to end your life?

What about me?

Why are you so selfish?

Dad wouldn't want this.

Do you care about Dad more than me? Your daughter who you left to live in this cruel world.

She prevented herself from crying, clenching both of her fists tightly. Johnny noticed the sudden change in her demeanour and cleared his throat, "I'll put her down now."

He slowly placed her into the grave he had shovelled. She looked at her body one last time with a frown before turning away, "You can bury her now."

"Don't you want to look at her for one last—"

"No. I'm... angry. I'm upset. I want to ask her so many questions. Does she forget she has a daughter who's still living and struggling on Earth? Why does she want to die so badly?"

"Juliette."

"I'm not the parent here! She is. So why does it feel like I have to hold it together for her or everyone?! I'm tired. For months, I acted like the parent instead of her! Does she not think what would happen if I lose both of my parents?"

"Things already happened, my lady. Instead of being upset with the past, life must go on. Just... don't follow your mother's footsteps. Better days are coming."

"You can stop addressing me as 'my lady'. My title is long gone after my dad died. Here," she handed him the flowers before heading back inside.

He knew she was upset but attempted nothing to prevent annoying her.

The next day, she sat on the floor next to the bed. Her hands held all the envelopes of letters she did not send out to the Duke. All that contained her words of love and worry, and prayers and wishes of him to come home. The door to her bedroom was knocked a few times before opening.

Johnny watched her curve into a ball next to the bed, sighing with a concerned expression. "Breakfast's ready."

She slowly stood up and headed to the kitchen, seeing a simple breakfast being laid out on the table. He sat down in his seat as he drank his tea, "Make sure to cover up. It's autumn season now. It's gonna get cold."

"I didn't even notice," she shrugged and forced herself to eat with no appetite.

"You know, you don't have to force yourself to eat if you don't feel like it. You're going to get sick."

She stopped and placed her fork down, looking at him. "Johnny, the Duke sent you to save me and my mother, right?"

He nodded as he swallowed his food. A scowl made its way to her face as she eyed the soldier, "Which means you were there with him at all times. And I'm pretty sure my letters reached him."

He stopped whatever he was doing, sensing the types of questions she would ask in a few minutes.

"You must know why he has not written back to me. Why?"

"I saw. But I honestly don't know. Whenever he receives it, he would just keep it in his pocket."

"When he did not write me back, I assumed he was killed in the expedition. But when I saw him yesterday–"

"You saw him? Where?"

"At the lake. He was swimming. In a very uncomfortable state, I wish to not remember."

"I guess it's time for us to come home then."

"Where? My house is in pieces now. This is the only home I have now."

"I promised His Grace that when he comes back, I'll have to see him to report everything that happened."

She watched as he got up to change into his formal attire, "Wait, you're going now?"

"Yes. Are you coming with me?"

"Probably not now. I have a few things to do."

He nodded, "Be safe. Don't roam around too much. The forest isn't a safe place."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Juliette went back to the lake, where she had encountered the man that she loved. Now blinded by the anger she felt after learning he did not put in any effort of reading her letters. She looked at her reflection on the crystal-clear water, seeing how she had changed over the months.

She picked up a few stones and threw them on the surface of the water, watching them skip. She huffed heavily before turning around to leave. But that idea soon changed as soon as the man she dreaded to see was standing before her with longing eyes.

"Juliette."

She immediately walked away to escape him, even if she knew her attempt would fail as soon as Jake grabbed onto her hand.

"Let me go–"

"If you're possibly mad about yesterday, I... I did not expect to see you again. And I hated that our encounter had to be like that."

"You didn't write me back."

"I know."

"I don't know what would happen to you. Or your current condition. Because you didn't write back."

"I know."

"Johnny said you didn't even read the letters."

"I know," he sighed again.

"So? Are you going to argue back?"

"No. I know. It's my fault and I'm sorry."

She took a deep breath of the cold air before looking away, slowly calming her anger down. He could not help but chuckle a little upon seeing her adorable temper. He took off his scarf and silently wrapped it around her neck.

"There," he spoke so tenderly, his words melted in her ears.

"What are you doing here? Johnny already went to find you."

"I came here to see you. I had a feeling you'd come back here."

"I'm still mad about the letters."

"And you can punish me for as how long as you like. Just please don't shut me out. I'm about to go insane for not seeing you for months," he knelt on one knee and looked at her with loving eyes.

All the anger that was boiling inside her faded as soon as she looked into his eyes, which made her even more irritated at how easily he managed to make her soft.